"Getting together" to save money reflects the psychology of young people wanting to have more control over their lives.
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"I used to drink hanging coffee, but now I have replaced it with instant coffee; I used to invite friends to dinner, but now I never go out unless I am AA; I used to order takeaway every day, but now I cook by myself; I used to have a big bottle of perfume, but now I only stock up on small samples... "
"No matter how consumption is downgraded, sisters must insist on keeping accounts and saving money", this is a post published by a blogger on his social account to encourage fans to persist in saving money, and in the comment area, a large number of people are labeled as "saving money" The attracted fans are exchanging their money-saving experience with each other.
Douban's "Poor People's Desperate Money Saving Group" has attracted 220,000 members since its inception.
It seems that young people are more keen on saving money for "revenge" than "revenge" consumption?
Tian Na, who has worked for many years, started saving money at the beginning of 2022. In one year, she saved enough for the first six figures in her life.
Shiqin, who has just worked for half a year, follows the advice of netizens to deposit 30% of her salary in the bank on a regular basis every month.
Yaoyao and her boyfriend have a common passbook, and the two parties agreed to deposit a fixed amount into the account every month, and the current balance has reached 100,000 yuan.
Before saving money, Tian Na had been living a life of spending money like water, and spending money was her main way of pleasing herself.
"I used to think that money was earned, not saved. Every time I came across something I wanted to buy, I would buy it even with Huabei or bank card overdraft, thinking that I could earn it back anyway."
But during the epidemic, colleagues and friends around Tian Na were laid off one after another. Because they had no savings, their lives changed dramatically. "This incident had a great impact on me. At that time, I realized that some sense of security is actually Derived from the number on the bank card".
Shiqin's savings stem from her longing for independence.
"I feel that it has something to do with my personality or the way I do things. I no longer feel embarrassed to ask my parents for money since I started graduate school. I have some savings in my hand, which will make me more independent and feel more secure."
Yaoyao saves money because she wants to have a small house of her own with her boyfriend.
"The house does not need to be too big, but it must be there. It is a symbol of our new home. The deposit is also a guarantee for us."
Chen Wu, a teacher at the Institute of Developmental and Educational Psychology at Wuhan University, believes that saving money in groups reflects young people's desire to have more control over their lives.
After the epidemic, they are aware of the various uncertainties that may exist in social life. Out of risk coping considerations, young people tend to become more conservative.
Saving money is a self-protection mechanism for young people to cope with the powerlessness of social life. When disaster strikes, it is very important for them to have certain financial and material reserves.
"Saving money is addictive", the accumulation of seemingly ordinary money saving behaviors is enough to trigger a qualitative change in consumption concepts and even the entire lifestyle.
After saving money, Tian Na's most intuitive feeling is that "there are fewer things at home" and "I fell into the trap of consumerism before and wanted to have everything. Now I find that lipstick and foundation can last for a long time."
"I don't feel comfortable carrying expensive luxury bags. I'm not worried about scratching here or touching there. On the contrary, canvas bags are worry-free and comfortable." Occasionally encountering products that I particularly like or want to buy, Tian Na I will add it to the shopping cart and wait for a few days to calm down.
Now, Tian Na's happiest thing is to save the money she has saved for death or to buy gold. If she occasionally earns money by doing side jobs, she will reward herself to travel and relax.
Tian Na called her consumption concept as "going to the bar by bicycle, the province should spend money, anyway, I won't let myself be wronged".
When Shiqin was in college, she also envied Internet celebrities who showed off their wealth on the Internet, but after working, she found that "what you see on the Internet is only what others want you to see, not the whole truth at all."
So, Shiqin turned her attention from the Internet to her relatives in real life, "My parents' salary in their hometown is not high, but they have always been very economical. For 30 years, they used the saved money to support my brother and sister to complete their studies. , and saved money for a new house for the whole family. In fact, ordinary people are living steadily and hard. The rich have the way of the rich, and the poor have the way of the poor. It is not easy to live a small life It will be easier and happier if you don’t compare yourself.”
In the next step, Shiqin wants to learn more about financial management, so as to save money while increasing income.
"Money is earned and saved. If you don't save money, you spend it. If you don't have money, you can't save it. From the experience of my parents, saving money is very necessary. I don't usually see it. It’s still different over time.”
Yaoyao said that the process of saving money is actually a process of gradually understanding her real needs.
When she started saving money, Yaoyao had a very painful life. "During that time, I became very stingy, and I even felt guilty for a long time because I bought more cakes and fruits. Things go against each other. Unrestrained consumption and blindly saving money are very different. It's hard to hold on."
So Yaoyao calmed down and analyzed her real needs, "I like eating very much, as long as I don't feel wronged about eating, I can talk about everything else."
Slowly, Yaoyao figured out a method that suits her, "Keep expenses within 20% of her salary, use the money to 'spend away' to buy things she really needs, and save the rest of the money." The method is called "Happy Saving Money Method" by Yaoyao.
After saving money, their consumption patterns seem to gradually become more rational, pursuing practicality and cost-effectiveness, and seeking to satisfy their inner real needs.
In Chen Wu's view, whether it is actively choosing to save money or avoiding consumption traps and living a life of low material desires, it is a kind of cognitive progress for young people.
They have gradually abandoned the habit of using irrational consumption to compensate their psychological needs, and are no longer brainwashed by commercial promotional content, linking exquisite life with "being good to themselves".
They began to think and reflect on "what to do to be really good to yourself" and "what is the way to really love yourself".
Chen Wu does not agree with the extreme way of thinking of "revenge" to imagine young people. Whether it is "revenge" consumption or "revenge" saving money, it is inappropriate for him.
Chen Wu said that young people's "getting together" to save money is actually a short-term coping strategy and a compensatory psychology after the crisis. Will adjust again.
But Chen Wu believes that the change in thinking mode is long-term.
After the impact of the epidemic, young people's perceptions of money and consumption have quietly changed, and the overall return to rationality and objectivity.
"I think the new generation of young people in China is more authentic than in the past. In the past, we talked about human relationships and relationships, but now young people dare to enjoy social interaction and refuse invalid social interaction; in the past, everyone was more inclined to show off consumption, using mobile phones, driving good cars, and saving face, but young people now pay more attention to their inner feelings and practical needs when consuming.”
Chen Wu believes that money and consumption are not a single concept, but a link in the social system.
Changes in the concept of money and consumption will lead to changes in other concepts.
"Young people are gradually breaking some false phenomena in society and moving towards a more real direction. In terms of money, young people are returning to simplicity, and they will be full of heart because they save money down-to-earth."
Tan Sijing, a trainee reporter from China Youth Daily and China Youth Daily. Source: China Youth Daily